John Abizaid

John Abizaid
United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
In office
June 16, 2019 – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byJoseph W. Westphal
Succeeded byMichael Ratney
8th Commander of the United States Central Command
In office
July 7, 2003 – March 16, 2007
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byTommy Franks
Succeeded byWilliam J. Fallon
Personal details
Born (1951-04-01) April 1, 1951 (age 73)
Redwood City, California, U.S.
Children3, including Christine
EducationUnited States Military Academy (BS)
Harvard University (MA)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1973–2007
RankGeneral
CommandsUnited States Central Command
United States Military Academy
1st Infantry Division
504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsGrenada War
Gulf War
Bosnian War
Kosovo War
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (6)
Bronze Star Medal
Officer of the Order of Australia
John Abizaid's voice
Abizaid, while CENTCOM commander, speaks on the threat of Islamic extremism in the Middle East
Recorded September 29, 2005

John Philip Abizaid (born April 1, 1951) is a retired United States Army general and former United States Central Command (CENTCOM) commander who served as the United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2019 to 2021.

In 2007, Abizaid retired after 34 years of service.[1] As of 2007, Abizaid is employed as a fellow of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.[2] He assumed the Distinguished Chair of the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point in December 2007. Abizaid was appointed to the board of directors of RPM International on January 24, 2008, and also sits on the board of directors of the Defense Ventures Group.[3] In 2008, he was selected as a Montgomery Fellow at Dartmouth College.[4]

On November 13, 2018, he was nominated as the United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.[5] He was confirmed by the United States Senate as ambassador on April 10, 2019, and sworn in on April 30, 2019.[6] Abizaid formally presented his credentials to King Salman on June 16, 2019.[7] He resigned on January 20, 2021.[8] He now serves as senior advisor at Albright Stonebridge Group.[9]

  1. ^ Jim Tice (May 2, 2007). "Former CentCom chief retires". Army Times. Retrieved May 2, 2007.
  2. ^ "Stanford welcomes back retired Army general, political scientist". Stanford Report. May 10, 2007. Archived from the original on June 21, 2007. Retrieved June 15, 2007.
  3. ^ "Spratt to tour Defense Venture Group facility in Lancaster | News Talk 94.3 WRHI". August 23, 2010. Archived from the original on September 2, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Dartmouth News - Retired U.S. General John Abizaid to Discuss, "The United States and the Middle East: Strategic Choices for the Way Ahead," October 14 as a Montgomery Fellow - 10/10/08". Archived from the original on October 16, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
  5. ^ "Trump names retired general John Abizaid to be ambassador to Saudi Arabia". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  6. ^ Byrnes, Jesse (April 10, 2019). "Senate confirms Trump's pick for ambassador to Saudi Arabia". TheHill.
  7. ^ "US Ambassador John Abizaid, Indian Ambassador Dr. Ausaf Sayeed join other envoys in presenting their credentials to King Salman in Jeddah this morning". Al-Bilad English. June 16, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  8. ^ "Message for U.S. Citizens: A Farewell Message from U.S. Ambassador John Abizaid to the American Citizen Community in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia". U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Saudi Arabia. January 20, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  9. ^ "News | Albright Stonebridge Group". www.albrightstonebridge.com. Retrieved July 14, 2022.